CM – Budget Bounty Reveals: The Coastal Projects That Won And Lost

The federal government is ready to give half of the money to a major modernization of one of the worst crossroads in the region.

The coastal budget slump was announced by MPs Ted O’Brien and Andrew Wallace in front of the federal budget on Tuesday evening.

The Morrison government will provide $ 160 million, half of the $ 320 million needed to deliver the long-awaited Mooloolah River Interchange.

Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk went public with her budget wish list on Sunday and requested federal funding worth $ 256 million for the urgently needed exchange.

Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said the exchange was a state government responsibility but the federal government stepped in after « too much talk and too little action ».

The state-run LNP had pledged to shovel the project with its first budget as an election promise ahead of the Queensland 2020 elections that saw Labor regain power.

The state government has spent $ 7.5 million on a detailed business case. The preferred option includes:

– A major upgrade of the Mooloolah River Interchange and existing connections to the east-west and north-south links of the Sunshine Motorway and Nicklin Way

– A new road link over the Mooloolah River, which connects the improved transportation hub with the Kawana Way in Parrearra

– Modernization of the Sunshine Motorway from the Mooloolah River to the Kawana Way from 2 to 4 lanes

– New local road links, including a direct link for traffic northbound on Nicklin Way to Brisbane Road in Mooloolaba and a new link between Karawatha Drive in Mountain Creek and Brisbane Road

The business case wasn’t supposed to be completed until 2021/22, and there have been long-standing concerns about the delays for the project, requiring significant lead time to complete the fill before the infrastructure could be set up.

Between 2002 and June last year, Transport and Main Roads purchased 115 nearby properties for the project.

« Anyone driving to or from Mooloolaba on the Nicklin Way or the Sunshine Motorway will know the scary, scary and frustrating experience that comes from navigating this congested and outdated intersection, » said Andrew Wallace, MP for Fisher.

The federal government should also confirm funding for the $ 7 million Caloundra Transport Corridor upgrade to relieve chronic congestion on the Nicklin Way roundabout.

Stakeholders had requested a federal pledge of $ 20 million to cover the current funding bottleneck and facilitate the expansion after pledging $ 48 million between the Sunshine Coast Council, state government and local philanthropists.

The philanthropists had previously announced that they would withdraw their funds if the money was not included in Tuesday’s budget for the project.

Transportation was clearly the focus, and Mr. O’Brien also announced a $ 5 million commitment to study an improved Stage 2 design for the modernization of the North Coast Rail Line between Beerburrum and Nambour.

« The current proposal for Level 2 to pass loops and other upgrades between Landsborough and Nambour is completely unacceptable, » said O’Brien.

« Nothing less than a complete duplication of the line, that’s two tracks, until after Nambour, that’s what the community deserves. »

Mr. O’Brien said the new design should allow full Nambour duplication and take into account the possibility of a future rapid transit system.

Mr Wallace said upgrades north of Beerwah would be important for residents of railroad towns like Landsborough, Eudlo, Palmwoods, Woombye and Nambour.

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